Julia Banks

Julia Banks's Biography

Julia Banks is an established thought leader on leadership, safe, respectful & inclusive workplace cultures and governance and a sought-after keynote speaker.

Julia is also an author & writer, leadership consultant, keynote speaker, former MP, and an experienced corporate and board director, non-executive director, and general counsel.

Julia Banks’ broad experience spans across the corporate, legal private & public sectors, her term in federal politics and her consulting business. Julia’s expertise and advocacy focusses on leadership, safe, respectful and positive workplace cultures, governance and risk, crisis and issues management.

Julia Banks has served in the Australian Federal Parliament as both a government and independent MP, and has held General Counsel, Executive Director, Company Secretary and Board member roles in global blue-chip companies, as well as several non-executive director and advisory roles in Australian organisations.

Julia has led large and small teams and worked in boardrooms and courtrooms predominantly in the corporate, commercial, governance, risk and issues management, and diversity and inclusion space.

During her federal parliamentary term Julia served as a government MP and then as an independent MP during which time her primary areas of advocacy at a national level were in relation to gender and cultural equality, climate change action and humanitarian issues.

Julia’s consulting and speaking work has harnessed her deep understanding and ability to tailor her consulting work, keynote speeches and panel discussions across workplace sectors – ranging from the law, manufacturing, professional and finance services, construction, consumer marketing and retail, sport, academia, mining, public sector organisations and local, state and federal levels of government.

A keynote speaker, panel member & moderator, Julia also regularly authors opinion pieces which have been published in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Paper & The New Daily. Julia is a Guest Mentor with the Mentor List/ Masterclass organisation which connects executive leaders in Australian organisations.

Julia’s bestselling book ‘Power Play, Breaking through bias barriers and boys’ clubs’  – part memoir’ meets resource guide for those aspiring to leadership positions – received excellent reviews and was nominated in the 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards.

Julia Banks graduated in Arts & Law from Monash University in Melbourne Australia, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Governance Institute.

Speaking Topics Include

Breaking through Bias and Barriers in the Workplace

Julia Banks recently released bestselling book, PowerPlay: Breaking through bias, barriers and boys clubs reveals the unvarnished realities of any workplace where power disparities and gender politics collide: from the unequal opportunities, casual sexism and misogyny to pressures around looks age and family responsibilities.

In this Keynote Julia shares personal stories of her own and others and practical advice and tailors this to the audience across any workplace sector. It contains key messages inspirational and practical for those aspiring to lead and for leaders.

Business & Organisational Workplace Culture

Based on Julia’s extensive experience in public life and the corporate sector she will tailor her speech to the level of audience across both the private and public sectors and academic sporting and other educational institutions.

She covers the topics aligned to her extensive experience in the areas of workplace culture, diversity and inclusion, trust ethics and governance, risk and crisis management and the role of trust and values of doing the right thing in authentic leadership.

Trust, Governance and Ethics

Good governance, ethics and trust must be lived and breathed by every individual in the organisation. In the private and public sector, in sports, academia, the arts and in politics and at all levels of government. An organisation’s brand and reputation for employees, consumers, and all stakeholders are contingent upon good governance.

The hallmark characteristics of best practice of good governance constructive action, authenticity, courage, and resilience. Listening to experts and feedback from all stakeholders and regular and clear communication Why? Because it's only when these things happen that the ongoing success of induvial leaders and organisations can be assured.

Key Takeouts:

Be Strong. Be Accountable. Take Responsibility
Courage and resilience are required in good governance particularly in crisis risk or reputation management situations. These situations are disruptive and intense, but they always acutely define leadership skills

Be yourself
Authentic leadership and trusting your instincts will rarely let you down. Speaking your truth even if it is your truth to power and staying aligned to your moral compass. Staying silent or being induced into silence is the single biggest killer of ethical behaviour.

- Listen and Communicate
Listening to experts and all stakeholders is key in harnessing good governance and authentic courageous leadership should always prevail.